Dualism in Johannine Literature

Introduction

The dualism is the distinction between two principles as independent of one another and in some instances opposed to one another. For example, God is set over against some spiritual principle of evil or the material world in theology. Spirit over against matter in philosophy. In this paper, the author is going to extract the dualism found in the Johannine literature. There are many dualisms found in the gospel of John like truth and falsehood, light and darkness, life and death, love and hate and two worlds; world above and world below and so on.

1. Background of the Johannine dualism

1.1. Qumran Background

Some scholar has found that some dualism in Johannine literature like light and darkness (jh1:4f,3:19,8”12) truth and falsehood(jn8:44), life and death (Jn11:25). Above and below(jn8:23) are also found in the Qumran text. Leonhard Goppelt says that the Christian came out of this circle and developed this language and with the Johannine tradition as well. The Qumran literature created by the Holy Spirit and the angels of darkness according to the R.E Brown. In the same ways John thought that Jesus has come to the world as the light to overcome the darkness[1].

1.2.Hellenistic Background

The dualism of john must be discussed against the background of Hellenistic dualism including Gnosticism and they newly discovered Jewish dualism as represented by the Qumran literature[2]. The dualism was deeply rooted in Greek philosophical and religious thought. Some the scholar though that salvation is human attainment by knowledge. Philo said that liberation from earthly bondage was by the knowledge of God and the world in which I don’t agree personally because believing in Jesus Christ and on what he did for can set us free from the earthly bondage. Salvation is grace of God. We get salvation when we trust to whom God has sent into this world to save us Jesus Christ.

1.3.Platonic Background

Plato gave a define expression of a real worlds which is invisible and eternal and that this world of appearance and time – sequence was only a temporary and imperfect copy. Out of this contrast came the concept of mind which is far superior to the flesh and the ideal of a life of abstraction and contemplation in which the mind freed from matter and fixed upon truly real became of one with God and that is the idea of the Good when Johannine Jesus speaks himself true vine. He might put a notion that he is an ideal vine.[3]

2. Johannine Dualism

The word dualism is derived from the Latin word duo meaning tow denotes a state of tow parts.[4] In fourth gospel, the two different worlds are represented by two sets of forces. The force from above is Jesus Christ and who is opposed by this world.

2.1. Flesh and Spirit

The dualism found in the Johannine literature is between flesh and the spirit. The flesh belongs to the realm below. The spirit belongs to the realm above. The flesh is limited and mortal but the spirit is unlimited and immortal. the flesh is not sinful as Paul used because the john1:14 says “the word became flesh”. The flesh represents human weakness and impotence and it can’t have eternal life and salvation 1:12-13). One must be borne by the Holy Spirit to see the kingdom of God (3:3,5). God wants worship empowered by the spirit of God (4:24)

2.2. Light and Darkness

The world below is the realm of darkness but the world above is the world of light. Christ has come in the realm of the darkness to bring the light. [5]Light and darkness are two contrast principles in conflict with each other like the light shine in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it 1:5. Jesus Christ himself is the light 8:12 come to this world to save those are in the world of darkness. Those who believe in the Jesus Christ will be the children of light12:36, job[6]es says that “God is light everything that is the antithesis of God is darkness”

2.3.Life and Death

Life and death contrast each other. it is the one of the dualisms of Johannine literature. Jesus said that “I am the way, life and truth” in John14:6. The believing in Jesus Christ is having eternal life(john3:16). He can deliver us from the death. the meaning of the death is separating ourselves from the lord Jesu Christ. Those who cannot believe in Jesus will be perish or death(jn3:16). The two noun life and death occurs together only once in john5:24 where Jesus said “ very truly I tell you anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and does not come under judgement but has passed from to life”

2.4.Truth and falsehood

In the gospel of John, the author talks about the much things about the truth and falsehood. There is huge contrast between truth and falsehood. Jesus Christ is the truth 14:6 but falsehood refers to the Satan. The apostle john said that “the father of the liar is Satan jn 8:44. Those speak truth are called the children of God but those who speak false are known as the children of the devil. Truth and false can’t be same and can’t be in one place in once time. There are different from each other. but the word of God says truth can set us free when we abide in Jesus Christ. jhn8:32. The root of the falsehood is devil. he only come to steal, destroy and kill us but truth set us free from all issues.

2.5.Love and hate

Love and hate from another dualism in John’s Gospel that there are those who love and others who hate. It is a matter of loving and hating appropriately. In the gospel of John3:19-21 where is written that “but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed…”.at times love and hate can express the Johannine dualism because what the believers are. And love is hated by the world (Jn15:18-25),17:14). Likewise, what the world loves is rejected by the believers (Jn3:19-21).

2.6.The world above and the world Beneath

The dualism found in the Johannine literature is primarily vertical a contrast between the two worlds above and below. in john8:23, Jesus said that “you are from below, I am from above, you are of this world, I am not of this world”. in the gospel of John, the world below almost always stands in contrast with the world above. The world below is viewed as evil with the devil as its ruler (16:11). Jesus has come to be the light of the world below (11:9). The authority of his mission does not come from the world below but form the world above (18:36). He must be departed from this world when his mission is complete. The same dualism is obvious in the language of Jesus descending from heaven to earth and ascending again to heaven. Jesus said that “no one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven”. Jesus has come down from heaven to fulfil a mission that he received from God (6:36). He come down as living bread. if anyone eats of this bread shall have eternal life.[7]

2.7.Eschatological Dualism

In the gospel of john, the apostle john emphasis the last things that have already begun to break into the present. This kind of expression is found in some verse like Jesus said “but the hour is coming and is now here” (4:23,5:23) and the hour has come”12:23. The expression display the realized characters of Johannine dualism. John 1:17 says the came through Moses but the grace and truth come through Jesus. Those who cling to the la orient themselves around a past revelation but those who come and believe in him whom God has sent8;42 receive the light of the present revelation which has come but also still to come (jn15:26; 4:16ff). the contrast between the water from the Jacob’s well from which one would thirst again4:12 and the water which Jesus gives Jn4:14 Display the present quality of John’s eschatology.[8]

Conclusion

As conclusion, I have come to know that dualism is two different principles found in the Johannine literature such as truth and falsehood, life and death, love and hate, the world above and the world below and so on. It seems there is two system which is against each other. life, truth, love, light belongs to the world above where Jesus is. But death, darkness, hates, falsehood belongs to the world below which ruler is devil. I believed that the devil and it's all schemes is defeated by our mater Jesus Christ. Jesus is winner over all.